A63B71/14—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the hands, e.g. baseball, boxing or golfing gloves

A63B71/141—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the hands, e.g. baseball, boxing or golfing gloves in the form of gloves

6 Claims. (Cl. 235-91) -'Ihis invention relates in general to improvements in 'sporting equipment, and more particularly to an improved lboxing glove construction.

Inasmuch as a majority of the boxing matches do not tend in knock-outs, it is necessary that a winner be deter- :mined by the vote of a referee and such judges as may be appointed. Inmany instances, neither of the opponents is struck with sufficient force to even cause a knock-down or to place him in serious trouble. Accordingly, it is znecessary for the referee and such judges as may be appointed to determine the winner by the number of blows :struck and the effectiveness thereof. While the effectivemess of the blows struck may be determined by viewing the physical appearance of the boxers, it is extremely difficult for a referee or judge to determine the number of such blows struck.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide in combination with a boxing glove means for registering the number of blows struck during a boxing match.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved registering boxing glove which is so constructed whereby each time a blow above a predetermined force is struck, such blow will be recorded, whereby the total number of effective blows struck during a boxing match will be readily available to the referee and judges judging the boxing match.

A further object of this invention is to provide a counter mechanism for a boxing glove, the counter mechanism including a pick-up head of the type which may be suitably embedded in the padding in the back of a boxing glove without increasing the stiffness of the glove, and a counter device which may be suitably mounted within the back part of the Wrist portion of a boxing glove in an out-of-the-way position.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a boxing glove conforming to the spirit of this invention and shows the counter device of the invention having the dial thereof exposed for reading, the boxing glove being partially unlaced and a flap normally covering the dial of the counter device being moved to an out-of-the-way position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure 1 and shows the specific details of the counter mechanism, including both the counter device and the pick-up head; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the counter mechanism and shows the same removed from the boxing glove.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a conventional type of boxing glove which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The boxing glove 10 includes a mitten-like portion 12 for receiving the four fingers of a hand. Connected to the mitten-like portion 12 and communicating therewith is a thumb portion 14. The mitten-like portion 12 terminates in an open wrist portion 16. The face or inner part of both the mitten portion 12 and the wrist portion 16 is open, as at 18, to facilitate the insertion of ones hand into the boxing glove 10. There is provided suitable lacing 20 to snugly tie the boxing glove 10 to a fighters hand.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that there is illustrated the counter mechanism which is the subject of this invention, the counter mechanism being referred to in general by the reference numeral 22. The counter mechanism 22 is of the pneumatic type and includes a generally rectangular outline bladder 24. The counter mechanism 22 also includes a conventional pneumatic actuated counter device 26. Connecting the counter device 26 to the bladder 24 is a non-collapsible tube 28. It is to be understood that the bladder 24 is in the form of a pick-up head for receiving impulses to actuate the counter device 26.

As is best illustrated in Figure 2, the mitten portion 12 of the boxing glove 10 has the back thereof provided with relatively thick padding 30. Embedded within the padding 30 is the bladder 24. The bladder 24 is so positioned with respect to the padding 30 that the padding 30 will have its same cushioning effect and thereby not vary the performance of the boxing glove 10.

The back part of the wrist portion 16 is provided with suitable padding 32. The padding 32 has formed therein a recess 34 to provide a pocket. Seated within the recess 34 is a cushion 36 which is preferably formed of sponge rubber or the like. Mounted within the cushion 36 is the counter device 26.

The tube 28 passes through the padding 30 into the padding 32 Where it enters into the end of the counter device 26. Thus, it will be seen that the tube 28 is effectively padded throughout its full length so as to both resist crushing thereof and at the same time not to provide a hard surface to cause the unnecessary marking of a boxer.

In order that the counter device 26 may be both pro tected and at the same time viewed, there is provided a flap 38 which is secured to the inner surface of the back part of the wrist portion 16. The flap 38 normally overlies the counter device 26 and affords proper protection for both the counter device 26 and the back of a boxers wrist. After a fight has concluded, or in between rounds, as desired, the boxing glove 10 may be loosened and the flap 38 moved to the out-of-the-way position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. When this has been accomplished, the reading of the counter device 26 may be taken to determine the number of the effective blows struck. It is to be understood that the counter device 26 may be adjusted prior to its installation in the boxing glove 10 so that only blows which will produce a certain pressure on the bladder 22 will be recorded. Thus, many of the taps utilized by certain boxes to impress the referee and judges will not be recorded.

in order that the counter device 26 may be reset either at the end of each round or at the end of a fight, there is provided a reset shaft 49.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a boxing glove, a scoring device for registering the number of blows struck during a boxing match comprising a counter, a pick-up head, and means connecting said counter to said pick-up head whereby said counter is actuated in response to an impulse applied to said pick-up head by a blow, said boxing glove having padding on the back portion thereof, said pick-up head being embedded in said padding.

2. In combination with a boxing glove, a scoring device for registering the number of blows struck during a boxing match comprising a counter, a pick-up head, and means connecting said counter to said pick-up head whereby said counter is actuated in response to an im- 7 pulse applied to said pick-up head by a blow, said boxing glove having a wrist portion provided with a padded back part, said counter being'seated in said back part, said counter being eiiectively padded.

3. In combination with a boxing glove, a scoring device for registering the number of blows struck during a boxing match comprising a counter, a pick-up head, and means connecting said counter to said pick-up head whereby said counter is actuated in response to an impulse applied to said pick-up head by a blow, said boxing glove having padding on the back portion thereof, said pick-up head heing embedded in said padding, said boxing glove having a wrist portion provided with a padded back part, said counter being seated in said back part, said counter being effectively padded.

form of a bladder, said means being a tube connecting said counter n p p h ad, sa d. boxin slave ay ng padding on the back portion thereof, said pick-up head being embedded in said padding.

5. In combination with a boxing glove, a scoring device for registering the number of blows struck during a boxing match comprising a counter, a pick-up head, and. means connecting said counter to said pick-up head where by said counter is actuated in response to an impulse ap plied to said pick-up head by a blow, said counter being of the pneumatic actuated type, said pick-up head being in the form of a bladder, said means being a tube connecting said counter and pick-up head, said boxing glove having a wrist portion provided with a padded back part, said counter being seated in said back part, said counter being cfiectively padded.

6. in combination with a boxing glove, a scoring device for registering the number of blows struck during a boxing match comprising a counter, a pick-up head, and means connecting said counter to said pick-up head whereby said counter is actuated in response to an impulse applied to said pick-up head by a blow, said counter being of the pneumatic actuated type, said pick-up head being in the form of a bladder, said means being a tube connecting said counter and pick-up head, said boxing glove having padding on the back portion thereof, said pick-up head being embedded in said padding, said boxing glove having a wrist portion provided with a padded back part, said counter being seated in said back part, said counter being eifectively padded.